WORDS Gina Dionisio PHOTOS Supplied
Hennessy takes its In the Paint initiative national by unveiling a new artistic basketball court by contemporary Artist Sphephelo Mnguni.
French cognac house Hennessy deepens its homage to South African arts and culture with the latest instalment of In The Paint, unveiled on Florida Road in Durban earlier this month.
This is Hennessy’s third In the Paint installation in South Africa. The first two courts were unveiled in Johannesburg at Zoo Lake with artist R!OT (Sindiso Nyoni) and at Ernest Oppenheimer Park with artist African Ginger (Seth Pimentel).
For the latest instalment, Hennessy partnered with local contemporary artist Sphephelo Mnguni to bring his artistic vision to life, inspired by the unique culture of Durban, its sense of community and how it unites individuals from all walks of life.
“To me, this piece represents pride, bravery, and Ubuntu. While the leopard print represents the Zulu culture, the blue background depicts the city of Durban — a place that heralds a new age of style, innovation, and creativity. The imagery is my idea of how the game of basketball and the culture that surrounds it blend together,” said Mnguni.
Known for its constant buzz, Florida Road was the perfect location for Hennessy to expand its In The Paint project outside of Gauteng. The programme, launched in 2021 in Montreal, Canada, is an initiative that aims to bring basketball and the culture born off the court to local communities worldwide.
David White, the General Manager Southern Africa and Marketing Director of Moët Hennessy, expressed his excitement around the unveiling, stating, “This is not just a basketball court, it’s a creative canvas that tells Hennessy’s story of bringing together the SPIRIT of basketball with urban culture IN A uniquely Durban setting. We are delighted to be moving beyond Johannesburg for the first time with this court – hopefully the first of many more nationwide.” | hennessy.com
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